What If Crosby Pulled a LeBron?

Sidney Crosby and LeBron James are seen as the best players in the world at their respective sports. Sure, you may hear the odd person that tries to claim Durant is better than LeBron, or that Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Toews may be the best. But to the informed fan, they know that there is only one true king in either sport.

On Tuesday, it was announced that LeBron James was opting out of the final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat. James could re-sign with the Heat, maybe for less money in order to give the team more cap space to give him a better supporting cast. If he does, he can earn a max contract of $127.7 million over 5 years. If he signs elsewhere, his maximum is $94.8 million over 4 years. If James goes elsewhere, it is a lock that he will receive the max contract of $94.8 million.

While the NHL does not have the same contract structure that allows players to opt out of contracts, it would be interesting to consider what Crosby could fetch on the open market if he opted out of his contract with the Penguins or refused to sign an extension and entered free agency.

Currently, he is signed for 11 more years at a cap hit of $8.7 million, which is not even the highest cap hit in the NHL. Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin both have higher cap hits. Theoretically, considering Crosby is the best player in the world, he would be the most likely player to receive a maximum contract. Yes, I am aware this is completely hypothetical and could not happen, unless the Penguins bought out Crosby (which won’t happen).

Would Your Team Give Sidney Crosby a Max Contract?

Theoretically, this scenario would play out this offseason, before the 2014-15 season. Gary Bettman has stated that the salary cap for next season will be around $71 million. According to the recently signed CBA, the maximum allowable contract for a single player is 20% of the upper limit of the salary cap. Using a cap of $71 million, that is a cap hit of $14.2 million. Since Crosby would be signing with a new team, he could sign for a maximum of seven years. That comes out to a contract of 7 years, $99.4 million.

Sidney Crosby (Photo Credit: Andy Martin Jr)

According to Capgeek, eight teams already do not have that much cap space to sign the max contract, let alone re-sign some of their own RFAs/UFAs. If a player like Crosby comes on the open market, you obviously do everything you can to clear cap space. But, compliance buyouts, regular buyouts, and salary dump trades can only go so far.

At a bare minimum, your team would have to carry 12 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies. In reality, every team carries a few extra players. With a max contract, you would have $56.8 million to fill the other 19 spots on your roster, and they would have to be paid a maximum average of a shade under 3 million. That’s not very much at all.

One way to see whether he would be worth a max contract would be how many cap dollars it cost per point he scored. With a max contract, and his 104 point performance last season, Sidney Crosby would be paid $136,538 per point. For a comparison, Malkin was paid $120,833 per point last season, Ovechkin paid $120,740, Getzlaf paid $94,827, and Giroux paid $96,220. So, Crosby would be paid more, but not by an absurd amount. His offensive dominance very well may be worth it.

The Difference Between Basketball and Hockey

When making the decision, one must realize the stylistic differences between basketball in hockey. In basketball, a few superstars can win a championship by themselves, no matter what the supporting cast looks like (see: Miami Heat). But in hockey, a few superstars does not make you a champion. You need depth at forward, a solid defensive corps, and at the very least an above average goalie. Signing Sidney Crosby to a max contract would make it markedly more difficult to fill out the rest of your roster.

Despite that, I believe you give Sidney Crosby a max contract every day of the week if he hits free agency. You are getting the best player in the world without giving up any assets, other than cap space. The salary cap is expected to go up over the next few years, making the cap hit less crippling. Finally, you could trade some of the more expensive players on your roster (who are likely some of your best) for a treasure trove of elite young players, prospects, and picks to fill the needs in the rest of your roster. One superstar does not make an NHL franchise, but getting him for free would.

Do You Give Crosby a Max Contract?

Comment below or send me a tweet as to whether you would, or wouldn’t give Crosby a max contract.

It’s funny I keep hearing that Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player in the world but every time I watch the Penguins Evgeni Malkin is the best player on the ice.

http://twitter.com/coleharbour87 mary kenny (@coleharbour87)

Your funny Ray, How come Crosby was the MVP this season (2014) and Outstanding player last season. Do you really watch hockey? Check Sidney’s trophy case including his juniors years you might not be finish counting his hardware for a month. OPPsss that’s not include all the medals and highest achievement that he receive. I still remember he receive the highest honor “The order of Canada” for the most outstanding athlete. When he was a rookie he put up 102 points in that season and the following season 120 points that was very impressive for a player who is a rookie. Now a days do you hear a rookie put up 100 points? The only rookie points this season was 63 points won a calder Nathan. So do you think its funny you keep hearing Crosby the best hockey player in the planet? Of course you will hear the Name Sidney Crosby Over and Over and Over again and again BECAUSE HE IS TRULY THE BEST AND OUTSTANDING PLAYER ON THE PLANET. You must be in your CAVE when Sid is playing. So stop whining and watch baseball instead so that you will not hear CROSBY, CROSBY. SLAP ME SIDNEY CROSBY.

http://www.cfitts.contently.com Colin Fitts

Good article Bill. I would not dare give Crosby the big contract, but I also doubt he would demand it. The selfishness in basketball is an atrocity and we can blame a lot of that on ESPN. While we may complain about hockey never showing up on SportsCenter, there is a positive – the players don’t turn into egotistical jerks.

Fritz Schoeninger

I would not trade a retired Kent Manderville and a bucket of spit for either Crosby or LeBron. Egotistical, self-centered athletes will destroy sports. I will take Lappy any day.